smokin .50 said:
I don't have a Paypal account. I've been targeted by identity theft in the past--thank the Lord it didn't get BAD! I don't do anything financially on the computer. I don't buy anything on the computer, I don't release credit card info on a computer. If I want to buy something, I call the seller and give cc info over the phone. I write checks and use postage stamps. I like black powder, and you could say I'm a dinosaur, lol!
Years ago I asked Claude to get a PO Box near where he lives so I could mail him a check. I want to help support this forum but I won't use Paypal. And that's where we're still at today........
Just for another POV, I do buy a lot online...everything I possibly can and there are several reasons.
Year in / year out the savings are significant...prices are usually less than retail, there is usually no sales tax, online companies sales volumes and contractual arrangements with various carriers gets shipping costs down to practically nothing...no expensive gas and associated wear & tear on a car driving around to find / get an item...to say nothing of the time wasted do so...no crowds, thefts, fender-benders, to worry about...a couple keystrokes and the item is usually delivered 48-72hrs later.
PayPal ??
So given that there are clear economical and efficiency benefits to that approach, think about this for a moment as it relates to security of credit card and personal information.
If I order 50 things online in a year from 50 different companies, I would ordinarily have to give out my credit card & personal information to those 50 different companies”¦that would = 50 exposures to problems with my information.
But using PayPal, the only company who has my info is PayPal...PayPal routes my payment funds to the vendor, not me directly...those 50 vendors never see my credit card and personal information...only PayPal gets to apply the charges to my credit card, not the 50 individual companies.
PayPal has been rock solid steady and efficient for years now. Plus, in this day and age, any/all good credit card companies immediately credit you for any unauthorized charges to a credit card as soon as you notify them. They have built in "purchase pattern monitoring software" that blocks and notifies me if there is a sudden change in my buying patterns / locations, etc.
Supporting anti-gun organizations??
Looking all across the country, little local mom & pop stores are no longer part of the landscape...basically most everything is tied to some sort of corporation, conglomerate, chain, etc, etc...the average John Doe really has no idea who donates money to anti-gun efforts behind the scenes. Personally, I don't see trying to "bring down" or "thwart" anti-gun organizations by attempting to first identify, and then boycott them as coming close to being practical or effective at all...a far better approach is to ensure each and every gun owner is a member of an organization that actually has some clout and influence, ie: the NRA.